YALDAH GIRL FUN!

Friday, June 13, 2008

In this week's parsha, Parshat B'haalotcha Hashem commands Aharon about how he should light the menorah in the Mishkan. But Hashem uses an interesting word for to light 'b'haalotcha' which really means 'when you raise up'. Why is lighting something raising it up? Rashi explains that Aharon had to make sure the wick of the lamp caught fire until the flame raised up on its own. This teaches us an important lesson about ourselves and our Jewish soul. Every Jew has a soul inside them that is compared to a flame. No matter what way you turn a candle, the flame always reaches higher. Our souls are always reaching higher and higher, wanting to come closer to Hashem.

But sometimes we don't listen to our souls. In fact, sometimes we ignore our souls so much that the flame shrinks to just a tiny spark. But it is still always there inside us, waiting to be ignited. We all have the potential to be a shining flame. That's what a lamp is - the lamp on its own doesn't give off light, but it has the potential for light. Aaron's job was to carefully and patiently nurture the flames until they each became a glowing fire. Every one of us has to patiently and lovingly help our friends and fellow Jews ignite that spark within them. Sometimes it takes a long time, but we all have the potential to be flames.

Once our inner spark is ignited then each of us can shine on our own, and light up the world for more people.

The Menorah is symbolic of the Jewish people. Even though it had seven branches, representing the fact that there are different paths to serve Hashem, it was made out of one solid block of gold. This shows that even though we have difference, all Jews are united as one.

May we all have the strength to keep reaching higher and lighting up the world for others until the day Moshiach comes!

One day a man went to an auction. While there, he bid on an exotic parrot. He really wanted this bird, so he got caught up in the bidding. He kept on bidding, but kept getting outbid, so he bid higher and higher and higher. Finally, after he bid way more than he intended, he won the bid - the fine bird was finally his!

As he was paying for the parrot, he said to the Auctioneer, "I sure hope this parrot can talk. I would hate to have paid this much for it, only to find out that he can't talk!"

"You have nothing to worry about", said the Auctioneer, "He can talk. Who do you think kept bidding against you?!"

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Since summer is just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to have a puzzle getting from spring to summer. Just follow the clues and if a letter is highlighted the same color as a blank, it means the same letter is in the new blank. Have fun!

SPRING

1. The month before May_ ___ _

2. A holiday where we dress up in costume and boo the evil Haman_ _ __ _

When the Torah was given, Mt. Sinai blossomed with flowers. Therefore, it is customary to decorate our houses and tables with flowers on Shavuot. Here's a fun and easy flower craft.

You will need:

Nature/Gardening Magazines

Tissue Paper

Cardstock

Glue

Clear Contact Paper/Lamination

Directions:

Cut your piece of cardstock to the size of a placemat. Cut out photos of flowers from the magazines, or use photos of flowers you've taken yourself. Arrange them on the cardstock. Cut out flower shapes from the tissue paper and add them to your collage. Glue everything down and let dry. Once the glue is dry, cut the contact paper to the size of your placemat, and carefully cover the placemat (front and back) with contact paper. Enjoy your Shavuot placemat!